Prose #1 Analysis

Within the two character’s Maria and Robert Jordan of For Whom The Bell Tolls one can see the degradation of innocence within Robert Jordan through his diction and the facade which he uses in discussion with his love Maria.

 Robert Jordan’s elevated diction within his discussions with Maria sharply contrasts that of his usual diction in which his diction is much more casual. Within these crucial conversations one sees the hypocrisy of Robert’s life. For within his relationship with Maria Robert all though truly loving the woman, he must hide the corruption of Robert himself unlike the purity of Maria. This can be seen within the lines “Thou has loved many others. Some but not as thee. And it was not thus? Truly?”(160 Hemingway). Within this elevated diction one sees Robert trying to fool Maria into believing Robert is truly is as innocent as she. A change of diction however comes when Robert converses with himself as he thinks, “Don’t worry. You mustn’t worry”(Hemingway 161). Thus does one see a clear distinction within the diction of that in which he speaks with Maria and that with which he speaks to himself. The facade of innocence which 

Robert uses for the sake of his love is purely to allow Maria to be happy within the final moment of life upon this earth. The elevated language of the text allows Maria to believe that Robert truly is a noble pure man and not and evil one. A man cold enough to have “made love to this girl and now your head clear”( Hemingway 161) plot the destruction and chaos of a battle to come. This line also shows the lack of innocence within Robert as his diction exposes a man calm and unbothered by the thoughts of killing men only for the destruction of a bridge. A bridge which will be rebuilt upon the advancement of the Republic and corrupt assortment of Russians and Spaniards. This change in mannerism between the man whom says “Thou art Beautiful now” (Hemingway 160) and that whom plans to “place the two automatic rifles to get the most level fields of fire”(Hemingway 161). Within both quotes does one see the fundamental change brought upon the lack of innocence within Robert Jordan thus allowing him to plan the violent death of both those he fights with and those he fights against. 

 Within the difference of diction does the reader see the true effect that innocence has upon the human soul for while speaking with an innocent human Robert speaks as an innocent himself however within his mind he speaks as cold and calculated as a killer.